Tuesday, January 25, 2011

East Kentucky Broadcasting Capsule News...West Virginia

Tuesday, Appalachian Power began mobilizing more than 350 workers from outside its service area to assist crews in southern West Virginia and southeast Virginia ahead of a winter storm expected to possibly cause widespread damage to electrical facilities.

Keival Lewis Kelly, also known as “Swell,” will be sentenced May 2nd after pleading guilty to distributing crack cocaine in Huntington on September 23, 2008.

Twenty-two year old Joseph Duffield of Milton faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine after pleading guilty to passing counterfeit money at fast food restaurants in the Milton and Barboursville areas of Cabell County.

Wesley Earnest, a former Virginia high school principal, has been sentenced to life in prison plus three years for the December 2007 shooting death of his estranged wife, former West Virginia University women’s basketball player Jocelyn Earnest.

Stephen James Mahnken, a former Winfield veterinarian, was arrested at Thomas Memorial Hospital after the nursing staff noticed someone dressed as a physician acting suspiciously and officers found some "bizarre" items in a patient's room. Mahnken has been ordered to stay away from the hospital.

"Coal," a Spike TV series featuring the Westchester mine in McDowell County is set to premiere on March 30th. Nine more one-hour episodes will air each Wednesday.

George Jeffrey of South Charleston has been found not guilty of malicious wounding after police say he stabbed Jeremy Pullen and Robert Peters in 2009. Jeffrey still faces charges after being arrested earlier this month for allegedly holding up the Speedway along Corridor G with a shotgun.

WorkForce West Virginia Acting Executive Director Russell Fry says West Virginia's unemployment compensation fund could be insolvent by March unless legislators approve a bill that would take $20 million from the state's Rainy Day Fund. Fry says the money would be paid back within six months.

Construction has begun on a facility along Old Logan Road in Logan County which will soon serve as a new office housing the two Logan State Police detachments.

The Huntington City Council has voted unanimously to ban synthetic marijuana throughout the city, making it a punishable offense to carry or smoke it. West Virginia lawmakers are consider legislation to ban sells of synthetic forms of marijuana and cocaine.

State officials have told West Virginia lawmakers they're proceeding with plans to implement changes to the state's health care system as Congress debates repealing last year's overhaul. Supporters warn that small businesses, seniors and children are among those who would lose out if it's repealed.

The West Virginia Senate and House have agreed on a bill which restores language allowing the Parole Board to limit their hearings to every three years for inmates serving life with mercy.

Acting Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has introduced legislation that would set a gubernatorial primary election for West Virginia Day. which is June 20th.

A new West Virginia University study for the gas industry says economic activity linked to drilling in the Marcellus shale field created 7,600 jobs and almost $298 million in wages and benefits in the state in 2009.

Republican Delegate Larry Kump says he knows his bill to let Berkeley, Morgan and Jefferson counties vote to secede from West Virginia and rejoin Virginia will likely fail, but it has gotten people to think about the state's economic challenges.

Senator Joe Manchin has joined other senators in an effort to repeal a provision in the Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010 requiring businesses, charities and other organizations to file 1099 forms for expenditures totaling at least $600.

The Huntington City Council has set new spending limits for Mayor Kim Wolfe that will require him to get the council's approval before making purchases exceeding $7,500, down from the limit of $15,000. Wolfe is considering vetoing the new ordinance.